Is My Ball Python OK?

[NH93]

I keep the mat under an inch or so of Aspen Bedding,
The mat heats up to 118 degrees
The aspen bedding above it heats up to 95 degrees,
The Cardboard Mat above it heats up to 90 degrees, and has aspen bedding throughout to allow cool spots.

This seems fine to me, is it not? The temperature has been constant

No, that's not fine. 118F is enough to burn your snake, which is what we've all been saying this entire time.
Snakes push aspen aside. An inch is not a lot of bedding, and can easily be pushed out of the way. Constant roaming is usually not a great thing, from what I've heard. Typically - if they are not hungry or in breeding mode - they are TOO HOT. They can get touchy (ergo the hissing) if they are too warm as well. They can hiss without being too warm, but it can add to it.

You asked a question, we all answered pretty much the same. I apologize if it's not what you want to hear, but it's the truth. Thermostat.

[Morris Reese]

No, that's not fine. 118F is enough to burn your snake, which is what we've all been saying this entire time.
Snakes push aspen aside. An inch is not a lot of bedding, and can easily be pushed out of the way. Constant roaming is usually not a great thing, from what I've heard. Typically - if they are not hungry or in breeding mode - they are TOO HOT. They can get touchy (ergo the hissing) if they are too warm as well. They can hiss without being too warm, but it can add to it.

You asked a question, we all answered pretty much the same. I apologize if it's not what you want to hear, but it's the truth. Thermostat.

Thermostat. I hate to keep saying the same thing but, THERMOSTAT IS A MUST!
Am I reading this correctly?
118 degree thermostat inside the enclosure with cardboard on top and bedding above that?? That is insulating the UTH allowing it to get even hotter than it should.
I have tried this and you should too. Put your UTH sitting out on the table and plug it in. Let it run for say 20 minutes and then check the temp.
Now, wrap it in a towel and do the same thing. It WILL be hotter in the towel.
Oh, and I did allow it to cool back down between testing.

[Wuattaguan]

No, that's not fine. 118F is enough to burn your snake, which is what we've all been saying this entire time.
Snakes push aspen aside. An inch is not a lot of bedding, and can easily be pushed out of the way. Constant roaming is usually not a great thing, from what I've heard. Typically - if they are not hungry or in breeding mode - they are TOO HOT. They can get touchy (ergo the hissing) if they are too warm as well. They can hiss without being too warm, but it can add to it.

You asked a question, we all answered pretty much the same. I apologize if it's not what you want to hear, but it's the truth. Thermostat.

I have been observing the temperature for the sake of proving a point,
The cardboard mat is unmovable (Secured with cornerstones), even I could not slide it off the heat mat with my hands.
The cardboard mat that the snake lays on has been on top of the Heat mat for 3 days now, and the temperature
remains at 90 degrees.

The snake now only roams around to switch from her cool hide, to her warm hide, to her basking spot, then back to the cool hide
She hasn't hissed since I asked about it, and I've handled her multiple times.

I am posting this to prove that a Thermostat is not a "100% required life or death" item.
However, I believe improper placement of the mat can of-course lead to burns.

How can you say the lay will eventually heat up to 118 degrees if it hasn't gone over 90 degrees in over 72 hours?

I understand your point from an "on paper" point of view, but from a first hand point of view, Do I really, truly, need to be spending $50 on a thermostat if my home-tests imply one is not needed?

[Morris Reese]

This is about like the thread on "Who uses eater bowls."
Yes your snake can be ok, but factor in the WHAT IF!!!!
No one expects their snake to escape from the enclosure, but it happens.
What if the snake does move the cardboard???

[Ridinandreptiles]

When doing an experiment ive had that same exact UTH burn carpet in my bedroom, not on fire, but it is crispy and black. I'll take a picture later. A dimmer is cheap, and it will get the heat mat to acceptable temperatures.

[Wuattaguan]

When doing an experiment ive had that same exact UTH burn carpet in my bedroom, not on fire, but it is crispy and black. I'll take a picture later. A dimmer is cheap, and it will get the heat mat to acceptable temperatures.

I like the idea of using a dimmer...

I will definitely spend $5 on a dimmer instead of $50 on a thermostat, And I will regulate the temperature using my Infrared thermometer to get it to a more acceptable level.

[Morris Reese]

I like the idea of using a dimmer...

I will definitely spend $5 on a dimmer instead of $50 on a thermostat, And I will regulate the temperature using my Infrared thermometer to get it to a more acceptable level.

If you get a dimmer you should be able to remove the cardboard. That's not a good idea to have the UTH on cardboard. If it will cook the carpet what will it do to cardboard?
With the UTH inside your enclosure the only thing you would have to worry about now is your snake urinating on it and shorting it out.

[Wuattaguan]

If you get a dimmer you should be able to remove the cardboard. That's not a good idea to have the UTH on cardboard. If it will cook the carpet what will it do to cardboard?
With the UTH inside your enclosure the only thing you would have to worry about now is your snake urinating on it and shorting it out.

Actually, I use a layer of REPTI-Carpet below my UTH, small amounts of aspen on top, then the cardboard mat above that.

I will actually go ahead and Place the UTH under the Repti-carpet to help even out the heat from the mat.

I have been checking Gorgon daily for burns, but her scales are white, reflective, and no burns to be seen

[CORBIN911]

Dont spend 50$, or possibly dont buy a 15$ dimmer, This is your pets life, you are required to care for it, posting a thread and asking for help only to say your right everyones wrong, No one here is asking you to buy a 300$ herp stat or a Viv electronics. The proportional which are yes expensive, but yo question everyone, and EVEN say yes it hits 118 degrees, next time you eat a meal, plz lay flat on 118degrees, and pretend you need it to digest, do us all a favor either spend 50$ (which is nothing in the reptile world) to 100% care for your snake or give to someone who can properly care. I REALLY want to know who told you how to set up the UTH on the inside, this is just obserd, did they also tell you to place a Ceramic heat emitter inside as well with no thermostat/dimmer?

[Wuattaguan]

Dont spend 50$, or possibly dont buy a 15$ dimmer, This is your pets life, you are required to care for it, posting a thread and asking for help only to say your right everyones wrong, No one here is asking you to buy a 300$ herp stat or a Viv electronics. The proportional which are yes expensive, but yo question everyone, and EVEN say yes it hits 118 degrees, next time you eat a meal, plz lay flat on 118degrees, and pretend you need it to digest, do us all a favor either spend 50$ (which is nothing in the reptile world) to 100% care for your snake or give to someone who can properly care.

I don't understand why you're referring to my UTH posts as defiant.

If you read the entire thread, my primary question was "It may be possible that the lack of a cool hide is to blame, or maybe the hot hide is TOO hot? Its an 8 Watt UTH and when I press on the ground above, its lukewarm."

If you keep reading past that question, you will see that the heat mat issue was fixed.
I am not saying that Users who reply are wrong, I am arguing that, although a popular idea, an 8watt UTH can be regulated to a correct temperature using proper insulation.

I don't take kindly to you suggesting I give away my snake because I fail to buy a thermostat. That is just a very "first world" idea.

At this point, the tank is perfect in terms of temperature, humidity, and UTH heating.
I have accomplished this without a thermostat, that was all I wanted to prove,
Thanks to all the users who's feedback about Gorgon's hides helped me better set up her tank.